Shawn Ball Arrested For Savagely Beating, Burning and Mutilating Cat

FLORIDA -- Shawn David Ball, 22, suspected of animal cruelty in the brutal killing of a pet cat, named “Pablo,” ran from deputies who arrived at his girlfriend's Florida home at 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies report that they made contact with Ball at the residence at 206 Bob McCaskill Drive, Defuniak Springs, and asked him to step outside, but Ball “immediately retreated back into the house and fled on foot out the back door.”

Shawn Ball was found about three hours later with the help of a K-9 police dog. A probable-cause arrest was made by Sheriff's deputies, based on evidence that on Sept. 5, Ball beat the domestic cat named “Pablo” with his bare hands, causing multiple cuts, hemorrhages and broken ribs.

He also burned Pablo’s face, body and genitals with an unknown heat source, according to the Sheriff’s report. The cat’s ear was left deformed.

Sheriff’s investigators responded to Ball’s residence that same day and found Pablo’s mutilated body in a litter box inside the residence. Blood and cat hair were discovered on the bed sheets and matched that of the deceased pet.

In addition to charges related to the extreme cruelty to an animal, Shawn Ball will also be charged with resisting an officer without violence, according to the Sheriff’s report.

(Opposing Views - Sept 21, 2013)